09-05-2025
Released on bail after SC order, Surat ‘gangster' arrested again. This time for threatening nephew
Alleged gangster Sajju Kothari, who was recently released on bail after a Supreme Court order, was arrested again on Friday for his alleged involvement in threatening his nephew to recover pending dues.
Along with Sajju, police have also arrested his elder brother, Yunus.
Police said the complainant, Akib Arif Kothari (27), who runs a share-trading business and lives in Nanpura, had borrowed Rs 50 lakh from Sajju's wife Kausarbanu a few years ago. Akib claimed while he had repaid her Rs 20 lakh, he had requested for some time to return the remaining amount.
Around three months ago, Sajju, who was booked under GUJCTOC (Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act) by Surat police for his alleged involvement in various cases, was granted bail.
After walking out of jail, Sajju again started demanding the dues from Akib, said police. He also forcibly took away Akib's SUV – a Thar – and told him that he could take it back after returning the money, police added.
On Friday, Akib was having lunch with his wife at his house when Sajju and Yunus turned up armed and demanded the pending dues, said police. After a heated argument, Sajju allegedly fished out a pistol from his pocket and pointed it at Akib.
Hearing the commotion, Akib's younger brother Aftab arrived at the spot and made a PCR call.
Officers reached the spot and caught Sajju and Yunus. A country-made gun with 10 bullets inside was recovered from Sajju's possession.
On the basis of Akib's complaint, Athwalines police booked Sajju and Yunus under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 109(1) (attempt to commit murder), 208(5) (non-attendance in obedience to an order from a public servant), 332(b) ( house-trespass for the purpose of committing an offence), 111 (organised crime), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 351 (2) (intentional insult with the intent to provoke breach of peace), 351 (3) (criminal intimidation), and Arms Act sections 25(1)(b), 25(6), and 29 besides Money Laundering Act sections 33, 40, 42(d).
Talking to The Indian Express, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 4, Vijaysingh Gurjar said, 'There are two cases of GUJCTOC against Sajju Kothari and his gang members. He got bail in both cases from the Supreme Court on the condition that he should not enter the Surat city jurisdiction. He had violated the bail conditions as well. We are interrogating him to get more details.'
